Archiwa rodzinno-majątkowe i spuścizny z terytorium dawnej Galicji (ich losy i stan obecny)
alternative title:
Family and estate archives and inheritances from the territory of old Galicia : their history and present state
author:
Pijaj Stanisław
journal title:
Studia Historyczne
volume:
55
issue:
1 (217)
date of publication
:
2012
pages:
51-70
ISSN:
0025-1429
language:
Polish
journal language:
Polish
abstract in English:
In Galicia, record keeping was dominated by the family and estate archives (archiwa rodzinno-majątkowe) produced by noble families. These tended to remain in private hands until the collapse of the Habsburg Empire, and only rarely did such collections fi nd their way into public collections.
However, there were several libraries in Galicia that attempted to collect these sources. Among the
oldest and largest of the institutions involved in this process was the Ossoliński Library. Its work
was greatly respected by the Polish population. On the Ukrainian side, the Shevchenko Scientifi c
Library and the National Home Library in Lwów played similar roles. The war years (1914-1920) were a particularly diffi cult time for these archives. The fi ghting
in Galicia led to the destruction of many collections, along with the manor houses, furnishings
and other items. This destruction was sometimes done deliberately.
Following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, most of the territory of old Galicia
was incorporated into Poland. The majority of these archives remained in private hands, but their
owners were eager to donate them to libraries and national archives because of growing interest
in their contents.
The fundamental change in the situation of the family and estate archives in the former area of
Galicia occurred between 1939-1945. These consisted of World War II and the border and social
changes that occurred in its aftermath. At the same time, a large proportion of the owners of these
archives lost their lands and estates - including their family archives. Some of the collections were
moved while others were destroyed.
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